Beginner · 26.2 miles
16-Week Beginner Marathon Training Plan
The marathon (26.2 miles, or 42.2 km) is a major endurance challenge. This free marathon training plan progressively builds weekly mileage and long runs with conservative volume guardrails and recovery weeks. Quality sessions rehearse marathon pace, and the schedule reduces volume before race day.
- Weeks
- 16
- Days / wk
- 3
- Peak / wk
- 36 km
Who this plan is for
New to structured training or coming back after time off. Comfortable running or run/walking a few times a week.
Beginner plans keep every run effort-based and conversational, with a longer aerobic base, no hard intervals, and a gentle build. The focus is consistency and confidence rather than demanding speed work.
What you'll work on
- ✓ Progressively build weekly volume and long-run endurance
- ✓ Develop marathon pace with race-specific workouts
- ✓ Use recovery weeks and conservative volume guardrails
- ✓ Taper intelligently to arrive on the start line fresh
Your training paces
Kanni anchors these paces to your fitness. The paces below are what this plan prescribes for a typical beginner runner — in the app they're personalized to your own recent races and runs.
| Recovery | 8:59 /km |
|---|---|
| Easy / aerobic | 8:19 /km |
| Long run | 8:34 /km |
Week-by-week schedule
The full 16-week plan, from base building to race-week taper. Tap any week to expand it.
Base
Week 1 3 runs
· 13 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 2 3 runs
· 15 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 3 3 runs
· 16 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.3 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.8 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 4 3 runs
· 12 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 5 3 runs
· 18 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 6 3 runs
· 20 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 7 3 runs
· 22 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 8 3 runs
· 18 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 9 3 runs
· 22 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.3 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 10 3 runs
· 26 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.1 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.6 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 11 3 runs
· 29 km
Light fartlek - relaxed pickups, no hard interval load
- Warm-up 1.5 km
- 6x2min moderate fartlek @ 6:59/km, 120s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 1.5 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 12 3 runs
· 24 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Peak
Week 13 3 runs
· 33 km
Light fartlek - relaxed pickups, no hard interval load
- Warm-up 1.5 km
- 6x2min moderate fartlek @ 6:59/km, 120s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 1.5 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Peak
Week 14 3 runs
· 36 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.7 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 3.3 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Taper
Week 15 3 runs
· 21 km
Easy run + short strides - stay sharp without fatigue
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.0 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Taper long run - relaxed aerobic rhythm, finish fresh
Taper
Week 16 3 runs
· 13 km
Easy run + short strides - stay sharp without fatigue
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.0 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Taper long run - relaxed aerobic rhythm, finish fresh
How this plan is built
- ◆ Determined plan length: 16 weeks (default for goal).
- ◆ Starting weekly volume: 15.0 km. Target peak weekly volume: 39.0 km.
- ◆ Periodization: 7 base, 5 build, 2 peak, 2 taper week(s); recovery weeks every 4 weeks.
- ◆ Weekly volume progression respects the 10% rule (cap +10% per week, +8 km absolute).
- ◆ Training days: 2, 4, 6. Long run scheduled on day 6.
- ◆ Pace zones anchored to VDOT 28.5 (Daniels intensities) with goal race pace 7:09/km.
- ◆ Long runs capped by recent history: longest run in the last 30 days 6.0 km; weekly long-run growth ≤ 10%.
- ◆ Assembled 48 sessions across 16 weeks; max 2 hard session(s) per week, no back-to-back hard days.
- ◆ Session selection tuned for beginner runner: effort-based running only — strides and light fartlek, no hard intervals.
Read the training methodology and evidence notes behind Kanni's published schedules. These plans provide general training information and are not medical advice.
Marathon training plan FAQs
How long is this marathon training plan? +
This beginner marathon plan lasts 16 weeks and schedules 3 runs per week. It progresses from base building through a race-week taper.
Is this marathon plan really free? +
Yes. You can follow the entire marathon plan for free right here on the web. Download Kanni to work with an in-app plan, track your runs, and ask an AI coach questions using the training context available in your account.
How many days a week will I run? +
This plan schedules 3 running days each week. The published schedule cannot be changed, so choose another experience level if 3 days does not fit your routine. The Kanni app can build a separate plan around your availability.
How much will I run in this marathon plan? +
The schedule begins at about 13 km (8 miles) in week one and reaches about 36 km (22 miles) in its highest-volume week. The longest scheduled run is about 16 km (10 miles).
Who should choose the beginner marathon plan? +
New to structured training or coming back after time off. Comfortable running or run/walking a few times a week. Beginner plans keep every run effort-based and conversational, with a longer aerobic base, no hard intervals, and a gentle build. The focus is consistency and confidence rather than demanding speed work. If that does not describe your current training, compare the other marathon levels before starting.
What if I miss a run or the plan feels too hard? +
Do not try to make up a missed run by stacking hard sessions. Resume only when the next scheduled effort feels appropriate. Persistent pain, illness, or unusual fatigue is a reason to stop and seek advice from a qualified health professional; this general plan is not medical guidance.
Explore more plans
Train smarter with an AI coach
Sync this plan to your iPhone and Apple Watch. Kanni tracks every run, provides plan context and post-run coaching as you work toward the finish line.